"Two years ago GM and Chrysler were hanging by a thread when President Obama stepped in "

[ProSense]

UAW and General Motors tentative agreement: Good American jobs at a good American company

<...>

"Two years ago GM and Chrysler were hanging by a thread when President Obama stepped in and invested federal funds to help turn the companies and the U.S. auto industry around, protect the auto supplier base and keep good-paying jobs in America," King added.

"This tentative contract provides jobs for UAW members who have been laid off over the last several years, creates thousands and thousands of new jobs for communities in desperate need of work, and brings production back to the United States that had been moved to Mexico and other parts of the world," King added. "New investment and products for our plants and communities are the most important components of a secure future for our members and for American workers," said King.

<...>

Since the bankruptcy, GM has committed $4.6 billion in investment and new products to UAW plants, creating 11,800 jobs. In the proposed agreement, the union secured commitments to create or retain an additional 6,400 jobs, reflecting $2.5 billion of investment and, most significantly, returning production from Mexico to the U.S.

The tentative agreement also makes significant progress toward the union's goal of equal pay for equal work by increasing wages for entry-level workers to $19.28 over the term of the agreement. Entry-level workers would also receive $5,000 annually in tuition assistance and additional benefits and job protections.

<...>

[ProSense]

1. No comment? n/t

[Arkana]

2. Remember where you are.

[vaberella]

6. ! n/t

[ClarkUSA]

11. Perhaps those who attacked Pres. Obama for doing this are too shamefaced to admit they were wrong.

Again.

[JNelson6563]

3. It's making a difference n Michigan.

And things keep getting better, a new improved contract at GM for starters.

This was a gamble Obama made and it's paying off. To the dismay of the naysayers.

Julie

[great white snark]

4. Detroit is coming back and President Obama played a part.

GM is making excellent cars and giving back to the community.

[vaberella]

5. This was the biggest support for Union workers ever. Even Democrats wanted it to go down.

Many were saying, let them fail. Obama came in and said---hell to the no. And I have to say if there was no other economic turn around the car industry alone, would have proved it wrong. It was seriously a smart move, innovative, and progressive. Added to the cash for clunkers which became a success---Obama is the Union king.

[fishwax]

7. kick

:kick:

[mikekohr]

8. IT'S A GOOD THING OBAMA SAVED THE AUTO INDUSTRY -graph-

?


By Steve Benen

Remember a few years ago, when the American auto industry was on the verge of collapse? When Republicans said the Obama administration’s risky strategy would fail and Mitt Romney said we should “let Detroit go bankrupt” and we could “kiss the American automotive industry goodbye” if Obama’s policy moved forward?

We can all be very glad right now that Republicans were wrong. The auto industry is one of the economy’s few bright spots.

Taxpayers bailed out much of the U.S. auto industry. Now the carmakers might be what saves the nation’s economy from falling back into recession.

After a massive restructuring and several high-profile bankruptcies, a leaner, more aggressive auto industry is making a comeback, hiring workers and ramping up manufacturing plants. From a trough two years ago, Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., Chrysler Group and other auto companies have added almost 90,000 manufacturing jobs, a 14% increase, according to federal employment data.

cached at: http://bureaucountydems.blogspot.com/2011/08/its-good-thing-obama-saved-auto.html

[ClarkUSA]

9. No other President in decades can lay claim to such a vital economic rescue of a signature industry.

I recall the vitriol here aimed at Pres. Obama during this period for his daring and controversial move.

Once again, this strong liberal President did the right thing.

[bvar22]

10. Obama stepped up in this case, and I have generally applauded him.

If the Auto Makers were allowed to go bankrupt,
the Unions would have lost everything.

But it also appears that the NeoLiberal Disaster Capitalists didn't let a good disaster go to waste.
There are several issues attached to this that are not beneficial for Unions, and may ultimately kill the UAW.

*The AutoWorkers pensions were "Privatized", and connected to Wall Street.

"In 2009, when GM and Chrysler nearly collapsed, the companies were allowed to use stock rather than cash to pay into UAW trust funds that cover health care costs for about 800,000 retirees. With bankruptcy looming for the automakers, the union was faced with taking the stock or risking getting nothing.

http://www.heraldextra.com/business/transportation/cars/article_065c0179-d662-52a7-b1db-87c375377ec5.html

*Healthcare costs were shifted to the Unions

"The health care trusts also were created to shift the cost and management of medical costs to the UAW, helping automakers shed billions in liabilities. In return, the companies promised them regular payments.

Gary Walkowicz, a Ford worker who ran against King for president last year, said the concessions are examples of a gullible union believing the company line. "If we continue to base everything on what the companies tell us, what their profits are, we have no place to go but down," he said.

http://www.heraldextra.com/business/transportation/cars/article_065c0179-d662-52a7-b1db-87c375377ec5.html

*This sets a very bad precedent.

"As part of the 2009 government deal, the union forfeited the right to strike over wages in this year's talks. In the past, the UAW wielded that weapon to win pay and benefits that helped establish the U.S. middle class.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=433&topic_id=780576&mesg_id=780576

If one compares the approach of the Obama Administration toward the AutoMakers/Unions
to the approach they took toward the Wall Street Bailout,
a very stark Double Standard is easily visible.

The problems facing all Unions, and the Working Class, won't be solved by these Patch Jobs.
This approach WILL precipitate an unending string of disasters during which the Unions/Working Class
will be forced to give up more benefits until there are none left.
THEN, and only then, will this statement be true:
"The American Worker CAN compete with any worker in The World."---President Obama


These are the REAL problems facing the American Worker:

*Unregulated "Free" Trade

*The Private, For Profit Health Care system in America.
As long as Unions and AutoMakers are saddled with this cost,
they will NEVER be able to compete in the World Market.

Fix those two problems,
and the American Workers will do OK.


Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ProSense]

12. What

"But it also appears that the NeoLiberal Disaster Capitalists didn't let a good disaster go to waste.
There are several issues attached to this that are not beneficial for Unions, and may ultimately kill the UAW."

...utter nonsense.

"Gary Walkowicz, a Ford worker who ran against King for president last year, said the concessions are examples of a gullible union believing the company line. "If we continue to base everything on what the companies tell us, what their profits are, we have no place to go but down," he said."

Some guy distrust the company's stated profits? What the hell does this have to do with Obama, oh sorry, I mean "NeoLiberal Disaster Capitalists"?

Current information on health and pension benefits

The UAW General Motors National Negotiating Committee entered into this set of bargaining as America struggles with record levels of unemployment and an economy that shows little sign of improvement. GM, like most private and public employers across America, immediately sought givebacks in health care and in our pension plan. With your continued support and solidarity, we stood strong and not only stopped these proposed givebacks, we made important gains for our members in this tentative agreement.

<...>

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Major Hogwash]

14. You jumped the shark, Jack

This is totally over-the-top bullshit, what you have put here.
For one thing, Obama didn't have anything to do with the Wall Street bailout.
That was TARP, and that Bush's solution to their problem.

Try to keep up.